Cowart helps Pine Ridge return to form

Basketball - Boys

January 26, 2006|By Buddy Collings, Sentinel Staff Writer

The difference Mike Cowart makes in setting the pace for Pine Ridge became obvious when he returned to the lineup last week.

Pine Ridge was 11-0 and state-ranked in Class 6A when Cowart was benched for an undisclosed discretion during a holiday tournament trip to Fort Walton Beach. Without him, the Panthers went into a 2-6 tailspin.

Cowart came back last week and immediately led the Panthers to victories over Flagler Palm Coast and Boone -- giving his team a 13-0 record when he plays.

"We look like we went from a VW to a Ferrari," said Shawn Knaub, the Pine Ridge coach. "The way we're moving up and down the floor, compared to what was happing when Mike was out, is incredible. Practice looks completely different."

Rodriguez a passing whiz

One college basketball coach said Joey Rodriguez plays the point for No. 1 ranked Lake Howell as if he has a built-in GPS system. He almost always locates the open shooter.

The 5-foot-10 junior is averaging more than 10 assists per game and set a school record with 19 in a 90-74 victory at Seabreeze. To our knowledge, that is the most for a Central Florida player since Nino Lyons was credited with 23 assists for Rockledge in a 1977-78 game.

"It's easy getting them with guys like Chandler [Parsons] and Nicky [Calathes]," Rodriguez said. "I'm confident in all our guys. They can all shoot. A lot of it is playing together so much and knowing where everybody is going to be."

Chase for the seeds

Most of the races for top-seed positions for the upcoming district tournaments are fairly clear cut, but not every race is over as we near the finish line.

Edgewater was ranked No. 1 in the state. But the Eagles had to go to Evans on Wednesday night, and have East Ridge at home Friday in another Class 6A, Distict 4 challenge.

DeLand was 5-1 in 6A-2, but had to play Spruce Creek (5-2) Tuesday, with Pine Ridge (5-2) also in the chase.

Going into the week, Dr. Phillips was perfect in 6A-5; Oviedo had wrapped up the top spot in 6A-3; top-ranked Lake Howell had clinched 5A-5; Leesburg was in the hunt in 5A-9; Eustis was unbeaten in 4A-9, Jones was undefeated in 3A-8; First Academy was perfect in 2A-9; and both Pine Castle Christian and Lake Mary Prep had locked up the No. 1 seed in their 1A districts.

The champion and runner-up in each district tournament advance to regional play.